For years, Kenya's fight against HIV has been marked by steady progress. A new UNAIDS report now shows that the country is no longer just making gains but is among a handful of nations closest to bringing the epidemic under control.
Even so, the agency warns that reduced international funding could slow down or even reverse the progress if local financing is not strengthened.
The report places Kenya among only seven countries worldwide that have reduced new HIV infections by almost 80 per cent since 2010 while also meeting the global 95-95-95 treatment targets.
According to UNAIDS, the milestone shows that ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030 is achievable if current efforts are sustained.
Kenya joins Benin, Eswatini, Lesotho, Nepal, Rwanda and Zimbabwe on the list of countries that have recorded an almost 80 per cent decline in new HIV infections over the past 15 years.
Figures from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) show that Kenya had about 70,000 new HIV infections in 2010. By 2025, the number had dropped sharply to 13,936, representing an 80 per cent reduction.
The report credits the country's progress to stronger national leadership and a growing shift towards locally driven HIV programmes instead of relying heavily on donor-led interventions.
“Strong country leadership and a shift from donor-led to country-owned responses are increasing self-reliance and helping to strengthen national systems, local capacity and long-term sustainability,” the report said.
The findings were released in Brazil during the ongoing 26th International Aids Conference, the world's largest gathering on HIV and Aids.
Kenya is also among 11 countries that have achieved the 95-95-95 treatment targets. This means that at least 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment have suppressed the virus to levels where it cannot be transmitted sexually.
Health experts say reaching these targets is one of the strongest signs that a country is moving closer to controlling HIV. Although new infections have not been eliminated, the achievement shows that transmission continues to decline while treatment is reducing illness, deaths and further spread of the virus.
Despite the gains, UNAIDS says Kenya's HIV response faces growing pressure following major cuts in international funding. The agency points to reductions in foreign aid, including funding cuts introduced by the United States under President Donald Trump's administration, as a threat to prevention, testing and treatment services.
UNAIDS says countries can no longer depend on donor support alone and must strengthen domestic financing to protect the gains already made.
“The era of relying on international aid is over,” said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS. “Countries cannot wait and they cannot go backwards. The world must urgently fix the broken financial system so that governments can invest in what matters most — the health, education and futures of their people.”
The report says Kenya's achievements show what is possible through sustained commitment and investment, but warns that maintaining the progress will depend on securing enough resources to keep HIV services accessible for those who need them most.